The Puffer Forum

Since Hoover the Figure 8 is well on the road to recovery from his ich he came home with, during one of my ever other day gravel cleanings last night, I decided to provide a more stimulating environment than his original set-up. I added a rock cave that breaks the tank in half, rearranged the driftwood to form another cave, etc. I think it looks great, and if I were a puffer I'd be cheering.

Instead, Hoover seems seriously irked at my intrusion to his little domain. He was pretty spazzy during the renovation, and as of this morning he was staying pretty well clear of any of the changed parts of his tank. I'll be curious to see if he's willing to venture into the new areas tonight when I get back from work.

Another funny observation - I defrost frozen krill and bloodworms in a shot glass by putting them on the tank top where the light shines on them. Hoover quickly learned the importance of that shot glass on top of his tank, and he will circle underneath the glass until I feed him. The other night, I fed him, put the shot glass back on top of the tank, and forgot it was there. The next morning when I'm getting ready for work I see Hoover, in the dim light from the lamp across the room, patiently circling beneath the shot glass still sitting on the glass tank top! Do you think he circled all night?

I realize it's obvious I'm still new to puffers, but these guys are seriously fun...my figure 8 is like a large cichlid intelligence-wise but in such a small package.

Eric

yea they are quite funny fellows! After I feed my suvatti he swims around the front of the tanks never taking his eyes off me like "If you put another one of those in here I will do a trick" or something like that.

My GSPs have been moved to the basement and I don't get to sit and observe them as much as I would like to. I spend a few minutes several times a day though watching their activities, making sure all is in order and dropping in a few treats in the evening. They always greet me with the infamous window dance, fully expecting a cricket or some other morsel to drop into the tank.

It's humorous, and sad at the same time, to watch how they react when I just sit and watch them for 30 minutes to an hour. No food, no tank cleaning--just watching. I swear it looks like they are going to have a nervous breakdown! "Where's the food! Feed me! <dance> Feed me please! <dance, dance...>"

Hoover is down in our basement, too...but it's a half finished basement where my clothes are (older house with limited closet space...and guess who gets the closet in our room?) and it's also our family den/rec room so he gets lots of company throughout the day.

He has also decided he likes the new arrangement. Instead of spending 90% of the time in one corner he's all over the place, zipping between caves and just seems happier. Then again, it could all be coincidence since he may simply be happy that I've dropped the temp from 86 to 82 since his ich has cleared up and he has been spot free for 6 days now. I'll probably keep it at 82 for another week then lower it to 78.

I'll have to try crickets as a treat. We have them on hand for my sons lizards.

Eric

Changes can be intimidating for a fairly short period. But the increase in visual complexity is well worth it, and I'm glad that the fish now "approves".